In May we had done the first long stage of our tour around Switzerland and finally we had another 4 days in a row free that we wanted to take on the next one: Basle - Geneva through the French Jura. Distance from boarder to boarder: 335km with 4690 meters of altitude on the way.

Last time we carried backpacks which is not ideal when roadcycling. Therefore this time Dominik had organized marvelous little toys for us: the ingenious invention of a small company from Alaska: Seatbags from Revelate Designs. The bags are mounted at the saddle therefore suitable for carbon seat posts and have a volume between 6 and 14 liters. What does one need anyway when the weather forecasts predicts nothing but sun!

After the glacier tour of last weekend and the wakeboarding session on Monday though I was not the fittest and the 103km to St. Hippolyte were quite demanding for me.

At this point as well a note regarding the pictures as in most of them it's me pictured: Dominik was the dedicated photographer, as he is fitter and much more skilled to cycle and take pictures at the same time, and also, same as in climbing, he just likes to take pictures of my beautiful back side...and proof that I did not only have a relaxed time in his slipstream!

The early bird catches the worm? Well, height meters I'd say. As warm up 400 meters up to Les Bréseux, and who assumes there would be some downhill is wrong. Remember, we follow the Doubs *up* to its source. Therefore, one ascent after the other, but enjoying beautiful views of the French Jura.

A cold lemonade at 33C helped me going up the hill at the lake again...true to the theme of the day, ascending. Chaux-Neuve, the final point for today, was not too far and soon we checked in at the Hotel Ty Nordic. The name astonishes only until you catch glimpse of the ski-jump behind the sleepy village that held a World Cup of Nordic Combined in January 2013.

A tip for all who might stay there though: the hotel's restaurant is closed on Fridays. We knew about this and went for dinner to the only other option in the village...which turned us down as they were too busy. No begging or explaining that we were really in need of food after more than 100km on the saddle.... Thanks to the nice lady at the gas station though we didn't starve.

The rest of the day was relaxing rolling to Gex (532m), with excellent views down to Geneva. Dominik added an extra climb up again as last hard training before his competition mid August: you rock baby!

For today the weather forecast predicted some rain so we started off early to make it to Geneva somehow dry. Via the point where the river Rhone leaves Switzerland, at Bellegard-sur-Valserine, we crossed the boarder and finished the stage at the train station of Geneva.

Wolkenspiele - Clouds

Die letzten Kilometer in Frankreich und der Rhone-Abfluss - The last kilometers in France and the bridge over the Rhone:

Ja, da hab ich glatt den Fototermin verpasst! Also: korrektes Posing auf der Brücke. - yep, I forgot to stop for the picture! So some posing in the middle of the bridge.

Und nach 335km durch Frankreich sind wir wieder auf Schweizer Boden..... After 335km through France we are back in Switzerland:

With this we covered the parts Basel - Höchst and Basel - Geneva. The past 4 days were not only because of the high temperatures more demanding than the stage along Lake Constance and I will have to train quite a bit to improve my fitness for the long stages which will follow: Geneva - Chiasso and Höchst - Arlberg - Stelvio - Chiasso. We are planning those for next year as they will take up more time than the warm ups this year, so stay tuned for more in 2014!